Lavender is an attractive flowering plant that is native to Italy, France, and Spain. Lavender is also referred to as common lavender, true lavender and English lavender (although not native to England) and has beautiful flowers that can range in color from bluish-purple, lavender, violet-blue, to a whitish-pink.

Due to the aromatic allure of lavender, in ancient times the Romans used the scent of the plant in bath water; and it was used to scent perfume by the Egyptians.

Medicinal Uses of Lavender

Both the flowers and the leaves of the lavender plant are used in herbal medicine, usually in the form of an oil or as a tea. The compound linalool, found in lavender oil, is known to have an anti-anxiety, calming effect.

Lavender oil is often used as a relaxant during massages, added to lotions for babies, children and adults, and used in soap.

Lavender has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain killing) attributes.

Photos of Lavender

The content provided is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have a health condition, please consult a medical professional and do not use this information to self-diagnose or self-treat.